Xenology

Identify aliens, biology, and weaknesses.

Xenology is the study of the Other -- every species, strain, and gene-line humanity has encountered (or created) since the Day One expansion. It covers biological identification, cultural pattern recognition, toxin and parasite diagnosis, alien artefact analysis, and the tactical exploitation of known weaknesses. In the verse, Xenologists are prized by the Legion (know your enemy), by the Chaplains (understand the flock), and by the Families (profit from the unknown). The Rim produces practical xenologists who learn by surviving; the Core produces academic ones who learn by reading. Trained only: you cannot bluff your way through alien biology.

Rules Reference

Field	Value
Armor Check Penalty	false
Key Ability	INT
Trained Only	true
Untrained Use	Cannot identify alien species or artefacts. May rely on obvious cues only.
Key Ability	INT

Notes

Special: Identifying a known weakness (DC 20) grants a +2 circumstance bonus on attack rolls or saves vs. that species for the encounter.

Special: Identifying a known weakness (DC 20) grants a +2 circumstance bonus on attack rolls or saves vs. that species for the encounter.

Untrained: Cannot identify alien species or artefacts beyond obvious cues (size, colour, aggression). May rely on common knowledge only. No weakness identification or cultural analysis possible.

Descriptors

dc: 10

Field	Value
dc	10
task	Identify a common species on sight

dc: 15

Field	Value
dc	15
task	Identify a rare or unusual species

dc: 15

Field	Value
dc	15
task	Recognise a known alien artefact

dc: 20

Field	Value
dc	20
task	Predict behaviour from cultural patterns

dc: 25

Field	Value
dc	25
task	Identify an unknown xenobiological threat

dc: 30

Field	Value
dc	30
task	Recognise a previously-uncatalogued species

Synergy

bonus: 2

Field	Value
bonus	2
from	Medicine
threshold	5

bonus: 2

Field	Value
bonus	2
from	Survival
threshold	5

Synergies

bonus: 2

Field	Value
bonus	2
ranks	5
skill	Medicine

bonus: 2

Field	Value
bonus	2
ranks	5
skill	Survival

bonus: 2

Field	Value
bonus	2
ranks	5
skill	Perception

Uses

application: Identify a common species on sight

Field	Value
application	Identify a common species on sight
dc	10
failure	Misidentify or confuse with similar species.
success	Species, general behaviour, and known hazards identified.

application: Identify a rare or unusual species

Field	Value
application	Identify a rare or unusual species
dc	15
failure	Cannot identify; may mistake for known species.
success	Species identified; basic biology and behaviour known.

application: Recognise a known alien artefact

Field	Value
application	Recognise a known alien artefact
dc	15
failure	Cannot identify; may trigger artefact if handled.
success	Artefact function and origin identified.

application: Predict behaviour from cultural patterns

Field	Value
application	Predict behaviour from cultural patterns
dc	20
failure	Incorrect prediction; -2 on next social interaction.
success	Accurate prediction; +2 on next social interaction with that species.

application: Identify an unknown xenobiological threat

Field	Value
application	Identify an unknown xenobiological threat
dc	25
failure	Cannot identify; no tactical information gained.
success	Threat categorised; weakness or vulnerability identified.

application: Recognise a previously-uncatalogued species

Field	Value
application	Recognise a previously-uncatalogued species
dc	30
failure	Cannot classify; specimen may be dangerous to study.
success	New species documented; +2 to all future checks vs. this species.